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Odor is generally caused by anode rod reacting with harmless bacteria
Solve odor problem by replacing or removing anode
Removing anode means tank will rust quickly
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Search waterheatertimer.org /
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How
to clean a hot water heater with bleach Odor is generally caused by anode rod reacting with harmless bacteria Solve odor problem by replacing or removing anode Removing anode means tank will rust quickly |
| Reasons
to replace anode: 1) Odor: Harmless bacteria reacts with anode to cause rotten-egg smell. 2) Life of water heater: Anode sacrifices itself to prevent steel tank from rusting. Maintain water heater will payback $5-10 per month by extending life of heater ... and reduced frequency of replacement 3) Usually a 6-year tank has .75-inch; 9-year .84-inch; 12-year .90-inch |
When to inspect anode: With a water softener or acidic water: every 1-2 years Without softener: every 3-5 Replace anode when inspection shows exposed core is visible at top or bottom, or more than 6" of exposed core along length. Rod that is covered with white calcium must be replaced. |
 Buy
solid hex-head anode1-1/16" hex head Choose magnesium or zinc-aluminum Aluminum might cause health concerns, while magnesium doesn't last as long Buy: Buy Zinc for odor control Buy anodes |
 Flexible hex-head anode 1-1/16" hex head Use when space above heater is limited Hot dog sections for easy installation Buy: Flexible resistorized anode Flexible anode rods |
 Hex-head Anode rod w/ resistor 1-1/16" hex head Rheem sales promotion claims that resistorized last longer than ordinary. Buy: Buy .7 resistor anode Resistor anode .9 diameter Flexible resistorized .9 anode |
 Combo
Anode
rodConnected to hot water nipple When tank does not have hex head anode, or when adding another anode to extend protection. Buy: Buy combo zinc-aluminum Buy combo magnesium Buy anodes |
| Aluminum vs Magnesium Aluminum works better but magnesium does not put aluminum in water. Aluminum anode might cause health concerns, while magnesium anode doesn't last as long Keep in mind, people generally don't drink water from the hot side tap. Health concerns and aluminum anode rods/ pdf? Water softener Push pull effect of softened water. Gas and electric water heater efficiency is 'unchanged over time' when hard water is softened. However softened water reacts with and corrodes anode rod and can cause tank to rust, reducing life of water heater unless anode rod inspected and replaced every 2 years. |
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 Buy: impact wrench for hex anode: Milwalkee M18 Fuel recommended Electric impact wrenches Air impact wrench |
 Buy impact socket for hex anode: 1-1/16" impact deep socket 1-1/16" Tekton shallow socket Universal joint for impact Breaker bar Adapter: 3/8: socket to 1/2" socket Buy: 1-1/2" impact for elements Use 1-1/16" for anode rods and 1-1/2" for water heater elements |
 Buy: for combo anode: Spiral screw extractor Knipex channel locks Irwin pliers |
  Replace anode rod and extend life
of water heaterLife-expectancy of steel water heater tank depends on anode rod. Once anode is depleted tank begins to rust Replace anode rod when inspection shows exposed core is visible at top or bottom, or more than 6" of exposed core along length. Rod that is covered with white calcium must be replaced. Add two anodes to extend life of heater. Longer warranty tanks have larger diameter or two anode If unit has hex-head anode, then install a combo anode on the hot side nipple Water softener shortens life of anode. Inspect anode every 1-3 years. Turn down amount of softening. Once anode is depleted tank begins to rust. Protect your investment.  Anode can cause odor problemsSome water contains harmless bacteria that reacts with anode and creates rotten egg odor in hot water. Replace anode when odor occurs or treat tank with hydrogen peroxide. Some situations call for powered anode rod, or removal of anode. How anode works When two metals are connected, water reacts with lower noble metal first. Anode rod is made from lower noble metal than steel tank. Water dissolves anode rod instead of rusting water heater. Bridges, ships, pipelines, steel structures that contact moisture have anode rods to prevent deterioration of structure. |
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Chlorinate
water heater: to eliminate bacteria
that can accumulate and grow in
water heaters. Bacteria often cause odorous or discolored water conditions. |
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| 1) Turn off gas or electric 2) Turn off cold supply to water heater 3) Drain tank... open bathtub spout on hot side 4) Remove anode rod(s) Note: Some anode rods are installed in a port located on top of heater. Some anode rods are 'combo' and are part of hot water nipple Read about anode rods Read: how to remove short nipple 5) Use funnel to add bleach into anode rod opening 6) Add 1 Gallon Bleach for every 25 gallon capacity 7) Inspect and/or buy new anode rod 8) Install anode rod back into water heater using 6 wraps teflon tape on threads 9) Fill tank with cold water 10) When tank is full, draw chlorinated water to every hot water fixture. 11) Run dishwasher until chlorine odor is detected. Then turn off dishwasher. 12) Run washing machine until chlorine odor is detected. Then turn off washing machine 14) Run each faucet on hot side until chlorine odor is detected. Then turn off faucet 15) Every hot water pipe must be filled with chlorine water. 16) Let chlorine water sit inside pipes for at least 1 hour. 17) After 1 hour, drain tank. 18) Refill tank and wait 15 minutes, then drain tank again. 19) Keep flushing tank until chlorine odor and/or discoloration is gone. 20) Then flush each water line until chlorine odor is gone 21) Water heater must be full of water before gas or electric power is restored Read: how to light gas water heater |
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Don't
use Bleach unless necessary
Use hydrogen peroxide to eliminate odors Safer. Easier to rinse out of tank and plumbing afterwards Non-corrosive Will remove odor |
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 Applies to gas and electric water heaters Larger image Read about odor and anode rods |
Control odor by
adding Hydrogen Peroxide or bleach regularly Resource: Read more about anode odor problem at pro water heater forum Install ball valve on Hot side so you can pour in peroxide Hot side will allow peroxide to enter top of tank. (cold side will put peroxide at bottom) Applies to gas and electric heaters. Turn off power to water heater: Let tank cool so hot does not explode out ball valve Shut off cold water to tank. Open bathtub hot side to release pressure. Leave bathtub valve open until finished. This will tell you when tank has refilled and ready to apply power. Drain 2 gallons from tank Add 2 pints harmless Hydrogen peroxide to water heater. Let stand for 2 hours. H2O2 is easy to flush out, and generally harmless to people. Can be used as mouthwash, read label on hydrogen peroxide bottle. Do not use clorox. CLOROX is NOT used for this purpose since it cannot be easily flushed out, and bleach odor can last weeks or longer coming out each tap for extended period of time. Then drain tank to flush hydrogen peroxide. Refill completely until water is coming out of bathtub drain, then turn on water heater. Applies to gas and electric heaters. Buy parts to make this drain valve Di electric nipple Ball valve at Amazon Plastic funnels at Amazon Buy hydrogen peroxide at Grocery store or Drug store |
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Buy
plastic tank rinser Tank rinser at Amazon |
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 Brass hose cap  |
If
drain valve is dripping Buy brass garden hose cap with washer Most local home centers sell plastic cap Install plastic cap and then order brass hose cap for permanent solution. Buy: Brass hose caps at Amazon Hose cap requires rubber washer. Rubber washer will seal tank. Resources:
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 Drip pan saves damage |
Prevent
water damage to home: Set water heater in drip pan Make sure water hose can attach to drain valve !!! Buy: Water heater drip pans at Amazon Resource: See drip pan installation Drain pan no greater than 1-1/2” deep and at least 2” wider than tank. Pan must not restrict air flow to bottom of gas water heater that has 3-legs. Set 3-legged water heater on bricks.. TP discharge pipe cannot be lower than top rim of drain pan. |
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 Automatic shut off valve |
Product
that can save money: Prevent
flood damage/ automatic shut off valve Savings undetermined/ save massive damage to home Shut off water automatically when leak is detected Valve attaches to water line... detector sits on floor... electric power does not rely on batteries Buy: Water detectors at Amazon Automatic water heater leak shut off at Amazon Resources: Leaking water heater/ steps |
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Water
softener shortens
life of tank Softened water will cause anode rod to deteriorate faster. Andode rod prevents tank from rusting Resources: Read about anode rods |
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Product
that will save
money: Use mixing valve Save 50 cents per month/ vrs cost of product and install How does this save hot water? Remember, a mixing valve is exactly what you do at shower faucet to keep temperature from being too hot... you add cold water to hot. So each faucet; bath, kitchen, shower and tub faucet is a mixing valve... where you manually adjust water temperature by adding cold Each time hot tap is turned on, cold water immediately enters bottom of water heater as hot water leaves top of tank going to shower.. When you use mixing valve located at water heater instead of mixing valve located at shower, then you save the amount of hot water that travels down the pipe going to shower. Good off-peak strategy... heat water off peak... then conserve hot water during peak times Good solar strategy.... heat water during peak sunshine... then conserve hot water throughtout night How much hot water is saved? Every 10 feet of 1/2 pipe holds .12 gallons of water. If bathroom is 20 feet away. 3 showers per day .72 gallons per day x 365 days = 262 gallons of cold water that does not enter tank. That means 262 gallons of cold water is not heated to thermostat set point. The math can be more complex than this 2-D example. But a mixing valve keeps more cold water out of tank, and water heater stays hotter Buy from my affiliate links: Mixing valve kit at Amazon Water heater mixing valves at Amazon Resources: Advantages-disadvantages of mixing valve Review solar water heater Off peak ideas for electric heater Ways to increase amount of hot water |
 Electric water heater thermostats Thermostats stick melt and come out of calibration... replace thermostat Symptoms: Cold water, uneven temperatures, reset tripping, TP releasing water Buy: Water heater thermostats at Amazon Resources: How to replace electric water heater thermostat Add another thermostat to water heater How to wire thermostats Marathon water heater thermostats Two water heaters Troubleshoot electric water heater |
  Gas water heater thermostats If tank is overheating or not heating correctly, replace thermostat Symptoms: Cold water, uneven temperatures, TP releasing water Buy: Gas water heater thermostats at Amazon Resources: How to replace gas water heater thermostat Add another thermostat to water heater Troubleshoot gas water heater |
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Buy Electronic parts Industrial supplies Tools and home improvement Home and garden Hayward pool Pentair pool Southwire electric |
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Buy
Tools DEWALT Black and Decker Stanley SKIL Makita Porter-Cable Bosch Irwin Hand tools Klein hand tools Fluke electrical testing Dremel hobby tools Campbell Hausfeld air powered Tekton automotive Powerbuilt automotive Saws and saw blades |
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Resource: Compare box timers DPDT timers Intermatic Control water heater w/ Z-wave |
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Resource: Intermatic control centers: and parts Digital control centers and parts Tork control centers and parts Subpanels All control centers and parts Enclosures |
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Resource: Programmable timers Countdown timers Off delay timers On delay timers Timer modules Din rail Twin & one-shot Woods Intermatic Tork |
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Recirculation systems |
 | Buy
from my affiliate links every time/ thanks: Amazon As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases Enter Amazon from any link on my site, fill cart with any item ... purchases pay small commission E-mail: geno03245w@gmail.com My response might end up in spam folder, check email folders Waterheatertimer on Twitter Message thru facebook |
